Russia, South Ossetia to sign deal on allied relations, integration

MOSCOW, March 18. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin will on Wednesday receive his South Ossetian counterpart Leonid Tibilov in the Kremlin.

After the two leaders’ talks, the Treaty on Allied Relations and Integration for 25 years will be signed.

"The treaty in particular envisions establishment of the common defense and security space, free border crossing, cooperation between interior ministries, simplification of the procedure to obtain Russian citizenship and the social component, including issues of pensions," Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Peskov said the document "is in continuation of the 2008 treaty and is based on an extensive contractual legal framework."

Earlier, Putin ordered to sign the document proposed by the government. The document is basic for stage-by-stage establishment of closer cooperation between Russia and South Ossetia in the social, economic and humanitarian spheres, as well as in issues of foreign policy, defense and security relating to South Ossetia’s state sovereignty.

The treaty can be prolonged for 10-year periods.

In November 2014, Russia signed a similar document with Abkhazia - the Treaty on Strategic Partnership.

Russia recognized as independent two Georgian breakaway republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The recognition followed Georgia's attack on South Ossetia that entailed Russia's peacemaking operation in August 2008.